We’re pleased to introduce Harrold, our new gardening expert at the Flyer. With years of experience and a genuine love of all things green, he’ll be sharing practical, easy-to-follow advice each month. Harrold would also love to hear from you—your questions, challenges and gardening mysteries. If you have a query you’d like him to answer in a future issue, simply write in or email us at newsdesk@flyeronline.co.uk
Hello everyone, and a very happy New Year from me, Harold. January may feel like the quietest month in the garden, but believe me, there’s plenty we can be doing now to set ourselves up for a fantastic spring. I always think of this month as the time to take stock, tidy up and give the garden a gentle nudge in the right direction.
One of the first jobs I tackle is pruning my apple and pear trees. With the leaves gone and the trees dormant, you can really see what’s what. I like to start by removing any dead or damaged branches, then thinning out the areas where everything looks a bit crowded. The aim is simple: let the air and light move freely through the tree. A few careful cuts now really can make all the difference to next season’s fruit.
January is also when I give my pots and greenhouse some attention. Pots can carry over pests and diseases if they’re not cleaned, so I give them a good wash and leave them out to dry before reusing them. In the greenhouse, I clear out old plant material, wash the windows and wipe down the benches. It always feels like a fresh start, and it really does help young plants get off to a stronger beginning in spring.
If you had a real Christmas tree this year, don’t be too quick to throw it out. I often shred mine to make a lovely, natural mulch for the beds. If shredding isn’t an option, the branches still make brilliant winter shelters for wildlife something I always like to encourage in my own garden.
For those of you growing vegetables, January is the perfect moment to pencil out your crop rotation plan. Moving crops around each year keeps the soil healthier and helps avoid a build-up of pests. Even a simple rotation can lead to noticeably better results.
And finally, if you’ve got any empty beds or bare areas, a quick dig-over now helps break up the soil and improves drainage. I usually take the opportunity to work in some compost or well-rotted manure too. Your spring plants will thank you for it.
So, although January may be chilly and still, it’s a month full of small but satisfying tasks. A little time out there now will pay off beautifully once those first warm days return. I’ll be back next month with more seasonal tips until then, happy gardening!